NATO (US) airstrikes perhaps the only thing keeping the Taliban back. They killed 100 people as part of an "annual Taliban offensive". I did not know about this. How does this make the US look that after all the nation building it's done over the past 12 years starts to blow up in its face?
We really should have just let the Russians have this one, this is like a fifty year reverse mortgage. Who the hell gives stinger missiles to schizophrenic mountain men.
I think Obama's 2016 gamble is to see if Iraq and Afghanistan can keep it together for the remainder of his time in office WITHOUT having to send additional troops. However, he has already had to delay the withdraw of troops from Afghanistan, and perhaps here is why: [rQUOTEr]Desertions deplete Afghan forces, adding to security worries ... In 2015, the Afghan army had to replace about a third of its roughly 170,000 soldiers because of desertions, casualties and low re-enlistment rates, according to figures released by the U.S. military last month. That means a third of the army consists of first-year recruits fresh off a three-month training course.[/rQUOTEr]
In the Winter? Or is it global warming? The Taliban and the Afghans have traditionally been doing Spring offensives against foreign invaders like the Russians and the US and NATO forces for a generation and will be doing so till we leave.
If the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are not going to fight for their country what is the point of the US trying to do it for them. Just get the people who want out out and let the crazy people stay there.